Antifriction side bearing.



T. H. SYMINGTON.

ANTIFRICTION SIDE BEARING.

APPUCATION FILED MAY 8, 1914.

Patented Apr; 11,1916.

' onu s THOMAS H. SYMINGTON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

ANTIFBICTICN SIDE BEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

' Application filed May 8 1914. Serial No. ssmea To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. SYMING- TON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city of Rochester, county of Monroe, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antifriction Side Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

The subject of this invention is an antifriction side bearing for cars.

The nature and operation of side bearings is well understood. Every such bearing consists of two plates, one over the other, and one or more rollers between the plates, the top plate being secured to the bottom of the car bolster and the bottom plate to the truck, so that the rollers between the plates, rolling on both the top and bottom plates, serve to take up or reduce the friction between the truck and bolster when the trucks swing relatively to the car body in rounding bends and the like.

In the ordinary construction, the top plate forms the bottom of an inverted box which is secured to the car bolster, and this box holds the rollers; Whenever the hearing comes into action, the rollers" tend to travel toward the end of the box and one of the problems encountered in the construction of these bearings is the provision of means for returning the rollers to a central position in the box so that they may be available as anti-friction members at every swing of the truck. To accomplish this, advantage is taken of the swaying of the car body relativelyto the truck, for every time the car sways to one side,-the weight is lifted from the bearing on the opposite side of the car. This affords anopportunity to return the rollers to central position and to do this various means are provided.

The present invention relates to a new and improved means for centering the. rollers when they are thus'released. For this purpose, I have provided a flexible journalwhich at its ends is suitably connected to the box near its longitudinal center. Thus,

when the rollers leave the center of the box,

. the journal is flexed and when the car sways so that the rollers are released, the flexible journal immediately acts to return the rollers to central position.

While I have shown they flexible journal in the present instance as consisting of a spiral spring which extends through the roller inthe manner of an axle,,I desire to have it understood that this form of the invention is shown merely for purposes of illustration and the flexible member may be constructed in a variety of forms within the scope of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing I have -illus-. trated the preferred form of my invention.

Fi re 1 is a view half in front elevationand alf in vertical central cross-section, the sectlon being taken on the line of the axis so that the view shows the box, the

roller and the flexible journal of the invention; Fi 2 is a side elevation, half in longitudina section; and Fig. 3 is a bottom plan.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or corresponding parts in the different figures.

The side bearing consists of a box 1, having integral flanged members 2 by means of which it is secured to the body bolster, not

shown,a bearing plate 3 within the box, a

bearing plate 4 secured to the truck, or vice versa, and a roller 5 between the plates-and adapted to bear on both weight of the car rests upon the box 1. In the form of the invention shown, the diameter of the roller is about half the length of the box and of the bearing plates, sothat the roller moves back and forth as the truck swings.

plates when the Toreturn the roller to central position when it is released, as heretofore described, I provide a flexible journal 6' which is connected at one or both ends to the box or other suitable member, near 'the center of its length; In the present instance, this con- 'nection consists of sockets 7 in the sides of the box in which the ends of thejournal 6,

which is in the form of a spiral spring extending through the roller after the manner of an axle, are seated. 'To give freedom of motion to' the roller, this socket is expanded in a horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 3, and

the opening 8. in the roller through which the member 6 passes, is also widened or belled at the mouth, leaving the spring or flexible journal free to be flexed'between its ends to a point near the center.

The flexible member 6 may be introduced in any suitable manner, but-this is preferably done by opening one of the sockets and providing a suitable cap. In the present instance I have shown one socket open in the direction ofv the axis at 9, the opening being filled with type metal to close 1t after the introduction of the spring. In this way displacement by vibration is prevented and the plug may be easily removed and the spring taken out when occasion requires.

I have thus described what I at present consider to be the preferred formof my invention, in order that the nature of the device may be fully understood and those skilled in the art may be enabled to con-. struct and operate it. However, I desire to have it understood that the structure thus set forth may be variously developed and embodied within the scope of my invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Aside bearing for cars having a box with a roller therein, the roller having an axial opening, a bearing socket on each side of the box, a spring having one of its ends seated in each bearing socket and ex- 1,17e,ese

with a roller therein and a socket at each side of the box, the roller having. an axial opening, a sprin having one of its. ends seated in each soc et and extending through the opening in the roller but free to move into and out of the bottom 7 portions of the sockets to permit the spring vto be flexed to respond to the traverse of the roller.

Signed by me at Baltimore Maryland this 4th day of May, 1914.

THOMAS H. SYMJINGTON.

Witnesses:

DONALD SYMINeToN, D. F. MALLORY. 

